Bye Bye 2008

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I hope each and everyone of you had a great 2008 and I wish you all an even better 2009!

I'd say this year was a pretty good one for me, despite some difficult time at the end.

Knitting-wise, it was pretty quiet. I only finished 12 projects, all of them small (5 pairs of socks, 4 pairs of mittens, two hats and a scarf). My favourite FO is definitely my Bird in Hand mittens. I'm hoping to knit bigger things in 2009, but that will be for another post.

On a more personal level, as I mentionned, I had a difficult end of the year, which started with a miscarriage in November. I know I haven't mentionned it (despite it happening during NaBloPoMo), I just couldn't really talk about it. It happened very early and quickly. I barely had the time to be happy I was pregnant and then suddenly, I wasn't anymore. I'm ok now, and I'm hoping for a different outcome in 2009. I'll keep you posted.

In December, my family suffered a loss when my aunt (mom's sister) died quickly and quite unexpectedly. At the end of November, we learned she had lung cancer and by mid-December, we found out she only had days to live. She died peacefully on December 21. My mom has 11 brothers and sisters and my aunt was the first to go so it was especially painful. She was only 57 years old.

Ok I am all done with the bad. I thought I'd keep the good for the end so you won't leave this blog feeling all depressed! Because despite the bad, I had a good year. I found a job that I really really like (and it looks like I'm quite liked there too). They're giving me responsibilities that I thought I wouldn't have for years and I'm loving it.

Chris and I celebrated our three year anniversary in August. Can I call it anniversary if we're not married and don't ever plan on getting married? It doesn't matter, I'll call it whatever I want. So we've been together almost 3.5 years now and in a couple of months, this relationship will become my longest ever (his longest is seven years though so we have a long way to go until that). I love him with all my heart and I consider myself lucky to have found him. Oh and we had our first (and only) fight in September this year! It happens so rarely I almost want to celebrate it next year ;)

2008 is also the year of our fabulous trip to Europe. We went to Italy, France and Spain and it was fantastic and magical. I don't know if we'll travel in 2009 but I sure hope so. We have tickets to a taping of The Daily Show in New York in May so hopefully I'll be able to get some time off to go! I want to have Jon Stewart's babies!

That's all I have to say about the past year. We're going out tonight with friends to celebrate. It should be fun. I hope you all have fun celebrating too!

In-between

We're at this period of time between Christmas and New Year's eve where all I want is to eat healthy, NOT drink and NOT see people. Too much of a good thing is never good. I think I'm this close to a sugar overdose.

So, I'm sure you all really want to know if I finished my gifts on time. Well I did! Ok, I finished the hat in the car on my way to my mom's, but still, it was done when I got there. Unfortunately, as I was knitting it, I realized there was a good chunk of pink/lilac in the skein I had bought, and I knew the recipient wouldn't be too crazy about that. So I cut it out. But then I ran out of yarn and couldn't get anymore because it was Christmas day. So I took another skein of Noro I had and tried to find a colour that wouldn't look so bad. It's not perfect but it's ok and the giftee loved it so all is good.

Unfortunately (again), I only had time to take a quick picture so it's all you're gonna get.



Pattern: Quickie Silk Garden Hat, by Isela Phelps
Yarn: Noro Kureyon (I didn't note the colour)
Needles: 4,5 mm/ US7, circulars + DPNs

I am so glad Christmas knitting is over! I think I'll want to make me a hat and new mittens next, but I'm not sure. I've picked my lucky clover socks back up and I finished the first one.



I'm really enjoying the pattern (by the lovely Angela) and the yarn (by Shelby)) is so soft I'm almost sad to be using it for something that will go on my feet. Sock #2 is on the needles and I hope to finish it soon.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

Yes, I am aware that I haven't been writing much. No, my disappearance has nothing to do with the book (I've only read a few pages so far, I'll get to it after Christmas).

I have been working, knitting, and dealing with the lemons that life decided to throw at me these past few weeks. But I'm ok.

My knitting has suffered and I only just finished my mom's mittens yesterday:



Pattern: #03 Green Autumn (Druid Mittens), by Jared Flood (Vogue Knitting, Fall 2008)
Yarn: Fearless Fibers Superwash Merino Wool Sock Yarn in Glorious Green
Needles: 2.75 mm/US2
Modifications: I made them for my mom and she has big hands. So I added an extra pattern repeat. I also added stitches to the thumb (I picked up 16 instead of 12).

The top looks weird on the pic but it's all right in person. I love the mittens and I hope my mom will like them too. I think I want to make another pair for myself (maybe next winter).

Now I only need to finish a hat. I don't need it until Dec. 26 and I have three long car rides coming up so I'm optimistic.

Happy Holidays to everyone and Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate it. Me? I'm gonna be working 4pm to midnight on Dec. 25. Joy.

Wanna see some yarn?

Today is election day in Quebec and I hope those of you who can vote did. There's a good thing about working weird hours: I left to go vote at 10:21 this morning and I was back at 10:30! Tonight is going to be a crazy night but it should be fun. I'll be in charge of "reactions" all evening. It shouldn't be too stressful. I hope.

I know I mentionned yarn in the subject line, so here you go. I still had one Effiloché gift certificate left and I had to spend it because it expires on Christmas day. So I went on Friday. I didn't buy anything terribly exciting, but I'm happy:



I got some Dale of Norway Baby Ull, that I want to use to make the Postwar Mittens. I'm still not 100% sure about the colours, but I'll give them a try and we'll see. I have to wait until I'm all done with Christmas knitting to start them (cause they are for sure going to be for me!).

Then, I got a skein of Noro Kureyon, colour 233. I want to use it to make the Quickie Noro Silk Garden hat for my stepdad.

I also bought the winter issue of IK and I still had some money left on the certificate, so I added two skeins of Regia sock yarn. I need to buy more solid coloured sock yarn so I can knit some of the beautiful patterns I have in my queue.

Re: Christmas knitting, I just finished Druid mitten #1 and I.LOVE.IT. I want to keep it for myself. I just hope it fits my mom's hands. She has big hands. They're a bit too big for me, so I'm hopeful (I had to add an extra repeat of the pattern on the hand to make sure it's going to be long enough. I might have to redo the thumb though). Pictures coming soon.

Now I just hope I'll be able to finish them AND stepdad's hat before Christmas. Wish me luck!

Days of our Parliament

Things are completely crazy in Canada right now, ladies and gentlemen. Never before has federal politics been so exciting for me! And apparently, the US medias don't talk about it so I invite you all to read this blog post by the Yarn Harlot. She explains the whole thing very well.

Our prime minister is with the Governor General right now (probably asking her to prorogue parliament). My thoughts:

1. Stephen Harper is arrogant deserves everything that is happening right now. Governing like a majority when you're a minority could only work for so long.

2. I would personally like to see what the coalition could do, despite the fact that I strongly dislike Stéphane Dion (who is an intelligent man, but a very weak leader). I don't know if there's any chance they could replace him before May (Michael Ignatieff would be my choice), but I think it would be best.

3. Separatists =/= evil, dammit! I've been reading forums and watching TV and there seems to be quite a bit of Quebec-bashing going on outside of our province. And people wonder why few Quebecers are federalists...

4. Quebec will be electing its prime minister on Dec. 8, but no one is talking about the campaign right now because what's going on in Ottawa is so much more interesting. Jean Charest (our current PM) must be so happy. He's ahead in the polls right now and he could spend the rest of his campaign in Florida and no one would notice...

When did that happen?

So it looks like I'm 31 today.

I feel like I've gone from 21 to 31 pretty quickly, where did all those years go? And why don't I totally feel like an adult yet?

Despite getting older, there are good things about birthdays. Like cake (though I don't have one... hopefully I will this weekend). Gifts are good too. Chris got me a CD I wanted, a knitting book* (he says it doesn't count as a gift because he got it for free at work) and a HABS shirt!!! I'm so happy about that one. I don't have it yet, though, because he wants me to go with him to pick it out. I'm going to two games this winter and I'll have a shirt, woohoo!

*For the curious, the knitting book is in French and it's called "Elle tricote ses grigris, ses écharpes et cie". I haven't looked at it that much yet but it looks ok.

Day 30 of 30

I did it! I blogged for 30 consecutive days! It was a fun experiment, but don't expect me to blog daily from now on. There were days when I really didn't have anything to say and I still prefer not to write anything on these days. But I do plan on blogging more than I did before November, so stay tuned. (Don't expect a post tomorrow though, I'm due for a break!)

Tara, you will be so proud of me. I have a birthday coming up and when I was asked for gift suggestions, I thought I'd ask for this:



Chris' parents came over today and gave me my gifts early and I got book #1 and #2 of the series. Yay! I hope I'll like it as much as everyone else! Like many women, I have a vampire fetish so I'm sure I'll love them.

Speaking of fetishes, I also have a tie fetish and I gotta say I LOVED seeing Mike Komisarek in a suit and tie behind the bench during yesterday's Habs game. What a hottie!

Day 29 of 30

Another long and crazy day at work. I can't wait till things go back to normal and I don't do as many weekends anymore. I'm not sure it will ever happen, since the company is trying to cut costs (which company isn't?) and will have to give our part-timers less work, which means us full-timers will have to cover shifts that are usually covered by those who work part-time, like weekends. Oh well. You gotta do what you gotta do.

I'm all by myself tonight, as Chris is going to a friend's 30th birthday party outside of Montreal and I couldn't go because of work. I intend to knit while I watch the rest of the game (we're behind 0-1 against the Sabres right now).

I need to go Christmas shopping. I have no idea what to buy for anyone this year. I'm sure I'll find something, but I bet I'll have to spend quite some time in the stores.

Ok that's all folks. See ya tomorrow for my last NaBloPoMo post!

Day 28 of 30

Oh my, will it ever end? I thought the crazyness that is my professional life would calm down once the provincial election is over on December 8, but now it looks like Ottawa is in the middle of yet another drama.

Basically, our current conservative government, which was just elected on October 14, could be overthrown by the opposition (for valid reasons if you want my opinion). Read about it here. That means that we could have ANOTHER election. But most likely, unless Harper and his team can come to an agreement with the other parties before the confidence vote on Dec. 8 (yep, same day as the provincial election), the opposition will propose a governing coalition. A coalition probably wouldn't work long term, which means we would end up with an election later in 2009 one way or another. *sigh* I find the whole thing very interesting, don't get me wrong, but I'm tired! An election is exhausting (moreso for some of my coworkers than for me, but still). I want a little break, mmkay?

In knitting news: I forgot to mention yesterday that I received the second Go Habs Go skein. That's what I call great customer service! Louise (from Biscotte & Cie) also sent a magnetic 2009 Biscotte & Cie calendar. It's already on my fridge!

Oh and speaking of the Habs, Chris just called from his office's x-mas party to tell me he won tickets for a game, on January 6 against the Capitals (I think). Woohoo!!!

Day 27 of 30

My (I mean my mom's) green mittens are going to be absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, as I mentionned before, they just don't photograph well. Especially since I took the pic too late to get natural light. Here's what they look like anyways:



That's all I have to say today. I'm too tired to think of anything else to write!

Day 26 of 30

Did you know that...


... there's a group on Ravelry called Almost Knitty, with patterns that have been rejected by Knitty? Just because it's been rejected doesn't mean it's not a good pattern (I found a cute hat on there).

... you can add reactions to your blog posts in blogger (similar to what we have in the Ravelry forums). At the bottom on my post, you can see "funny", "interesting" and "boring" and you can click on it and a (1) will appear.

... I ended up knitting THIRTY rows yesterday. Go me!

Day 25 of 30

November 25. We are exactly one month away from Christmas! Eeeek! I so don't feel in the Christmas spirit yet. I'm sure it'll come once we start decorating and once I get back to regular work schedules and all. It will also be my birthday in about a week and everyone is asking me what I want for Christmas AND my birthday and really, I have no idea. I know I could ask for yarn money, but to be honest, I still have one gift certificate I have left from LAST YEAR. I'm trying not to accumulate too much yarn, due to the lack of space in our appartment.

Anyways. One month left before Christmas and I'm far from done with the Christmas knitting. I know I'm in a better position than many, but you have to remember that I'm a slow knitter. And the mittens I've chosen for my mom... well let's just say choosing thin yarn with small needles maybe wasn't the best idea for me ;) But I like how they're coming along and I'm sure I can finish them in time. Here's where I am right now:



I wasn't sure about the yarn at first because I find that it doesn't show patterns as well as other yarns, but I still like the way the mittens look. The yarn doesn't photograph well though, I couldn't get a nice pic of the WIP! But trust me, it looks great so far. The pattern is fun and definitely not boring. I gave myself a goal of at least 10 rows a day (it doesn't sound like much, but with all the symbols on the chart, it takes me quite some time). I'm hoping to finish on or before Dec. 15, so then I'll have 10 days to knit the hat for my stepdad, which should be plenty.

I've already knit 9 rows today, so I'm sure I'll go over my goal tonight. Go me!

Day 24 of 30

This post is brought to you by the word YUMMY!

First, I got my Go Habs Go yarn!



Thanks to Robyn, I was able to get this yummy sock yarn from Biscotte & Cie. Unfortunately, there was an error with my order and I only received one skein instead of the two I ordered (cause I want socks for me and another pair for Chris). Louise, from Biscotte, is great though and she replied promptly to my Ravelry message to apologize and told me she'd send my other skein tomorrow. So all is good and despite this little mistake (it happens and as long as it gets fixed, I don't mind), I gotta say I'm very happy with my purchase. The yarn is soft and just yummy.

Speaking of yummy... The girl who writes this blog mentionned these cookies and I just had to try them. She made them with peanut butter chips instead of the recommended semisweet chocolate chips. I'm sure both options are delicious, but I made them with white chocolate chips and there are just no words. It takes all my willpower not to eat them all (and the recipe makes a lot).



Let me know if you make them!

Day 23 of 30

Dear Alouettes,

Why, oh why, did you lose the Grey Cup tonight, here in Montreal? I'm so disappointed, I was so sure they were going to win. I'm not a super huge football fan, but I still like to watch the game and ask my boyfriend a bunch of questions. I prefer when they win though.

On top of the Alouettes game, the two-hour special of 24 and Colbert's Christmas special were on tonight! Thank god for recorders!

Despite all this TV, I didn't knit a stitch. I just didn't feel like it. It happens. I'll be able to knit for the next two days since I'm not working. Woohoo. I was really looking forward to the days off after a rough couple of days.

Ok so this post was very random. I'll try to think of a good post for tomorrow.

Day 22 of 30

Working on weekends sucks. I'm used to having unconventional work schedules, it's pretty normal in journalism. But still, I prefer the regular Monday-Friday thing. Fortunately, I should be getting back to that once the election is over. Soon. And I have only one day left and after that I have two days off, which is good.

I'm watching the Habs play the Bruins and even though it's still 0-0 after one period, I'm happy with the way they're playing right now. I hope they'll win!

I'm working on the Green Autumn mittens during the game. As promised, here's a progress pic:



It looks much better in person.

(The Habs just scored while I was writing this. 1-0! Woohoo!)

Ps/Thanks to everyone for your good thoughts after yesterday's post.

Day 21 of 30

NaBloPoMo should allow for a no-blogging day for when you have the worst.day.ever. Today was bad news after bad news after bad news. Nothing I want to talk about here, but yeah. Let's just say I don't feel like blogging.

I'll add a little bit of knitting content by saying that I finally found the right needles for the mittens I'm knitting and I've done the cuff on #1. I plan on spending the rest of the evening on the couch, knitting.

I'll be back tomorrow, ok?

Day 20 of 30

Day 20, already? Where has the time gone. In 10 days, I'll have succeeded NaBloPoMo. Go me!

So, yesterday, Robyn posted about the Go Habs Go sock yarn she bought.



Of course, I had to have some of that. I looked at the seller's Etsy shop, but I couldn't find any, so I sent her a message through Ravelry and she replied to tell me she had two skeins left! Yesssssss! So I ordered them. I'm gonna make me and Chris some Habs socks!

I'm in a fabulous mood today.

Day 19 of 30

So I did not go to the yarn store after all. Like I said yesterday, I really want to try and use yarn from my stash for my Christmas gifts. So yesterday, I was browsing my (enormous) queue on Ravelry and re-fell in love with the Green Autumn mittens (Ravelry link). I decided I wanted to make them for my mom AND I realized I could use something from my stash:



Fearless Fibers Superwash Merino Wool Sock Yarn, in Glorious Green. I'm not 100% sure it will work, as it is a light fingering weight but it's worth a try. I knit the cuff with 3 mm needles yesterday, but I think I'll have to get down to 2.75 mm (the suggested needles are 3.25 mm). Hopefully it'll work.

Day 18 of 30

Oh my, it's the 18th already? Time flies, really. Only 12 days left to NaBloPoMo. I think I'm gonna make it.

Today, I'm presenting you my third FO this month (quick projects are fun):



Pattern>The Boy Hat, by Elizabeth Heath-Heckman.
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted in black
Needles: US 7/4.5 mm circulars and DPNs

It's already on my boyfriend's head. I finished it last night and he immediately asked if it was for him. Oh well, I still consider it his Christmas knit gift.

I only have two gifts left to knit. Yay! I spent part of this morning going through my stash, because I'd really like to use yarn from it, but it looks like I won't. I have a small stash but it feels huge to me cause I don't have that much space, but most of the yarn I have don't fit any of the projects I want to knit. *sigh* I'm really trying to be better and only buy when I'm ready to cast on, but I still need to find projects for what I already have. I guess my New Years knitting resolution will be to try and knit from stash more. The good thing is that I used yarn from my stash for the two gifts I knit this year. But for my mom and stepdad's gifts, I'll have to go to the yarn store.

Day 17 of 30

This is my 300th post! Weehee! It really doesn't seem like a lot, though, considering I've been writing in this blog for over four years! Let's just say I've had slow periods.

Here's my first post (and my first scarf!).

I had today off and I'll be off tomorrow too. Then I'll be working from Wed-Sun. I've been tired all day so I wanted to be lazy, but I ended up going grocery shopping, doing many loads of laundry, cleaning the floors and cooking. Not too bad. I also crashed on the couch for an hour this afternoon, but I figured I deserved it. Especially since I had gotten up at around 7am this morning for no reason except the fact that I couldn't sleep.

I'm sorry I was hoping for a better post for my 300th, with a glorious FO to show off, but I've got nothing. So I'll leave you with a pic of one of the cutest creatures ever: